Today [Saturday, 7th December 2024] the Landesschiedskommission (District Administration Commisson) of die Linke expelled me from the party with immediate effect upon request by Katina Schubert and Martin Schirdewan.
I would like to reply to this decision with the following statement:
Although the charges levied against me were refuted in the hearing, the same unsubstantiated allegations were once more used as justification for my expulsion, and their refutation was ignored.
One of the main arguments for my expulsion was that there had been a media campaign waged against me because of my activities in support of Palestine solidarity, which resulted in institutions questioning cooperation with die Linke.
While the oral argumentation of the decision certified that no accusations of antisemitism had been made and that I had inflicted no intentional damage to die Linke, I was expelled with immediate effect.
The oral argumentation shows the political motivation of the Landesschiedskommission. My conviction that all people should have the same rights, whether they are Jewish, Muslim, or atheist, was dismissed as a “beautiful dream”.
The Landesschiedskommission is thus following the logic of unconditional support for the State of Israel, in accordance with German Staatsräson, which it has put above the right to existence of and equal rights for Palestinian people.
The current development of the mass killing of the Palestinian civil population, which has also been confirmed by Amnesty International as a genocide, was given no import in the judgement of the context of my statements.
My expulsion cannot be justified, either factually or politically.
The failure of the verdict to acknowledge the most recent decision of the International Criminal Court is a damning indictment of a left, internationalist party. It inflicts damage upon everyone who is fighting for universal human rights.
I thank everyone within and external to die Linke who have shown solidarity with me in recent weeks, and who have exposed themselves to the danger of media defamation. Their presence at the rally that took place at the proceedings showed me that I am not alone. Many thanks for this.
I will continue to do everything possible with comrades within and external to die Linke to build the solidarity movement with Palestine. The delivery of weapons for Israel’s genocide in Gaza must be ended. Human rights are indivisible – that is more than a “beautiful dream”. Let us stand up for them together:
This statement first appeared in German. Translation: Phil Butland. Reproduced with permission
